When foundations reduce their support to a field, they generally offer brief explanations for their actions, citing a record of past achievement, a new constellation of social needs, and a consequent reconfiguration of priorities. Other rationales for the foundations' recent rift with higher education include friction between foundation agendas…

Corporate philanthropy has become a standard practice in the business world, allowing corporations to serve the broader and longer-term interests of the society while at the same time promoting corporate prosperity. Strengthening of the humanities and social sciences is discussed by the president of the Exxon Education Foundation. (MLW)

Unique constraints on the publishing practices of university presses, practices in scholarly publishing, and new technological challenges and options combine to create a difficult situation for many academic presses. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is experimenting with uses of technology in scholarly communication, finding that collaboration…

The National Endowment for the Humanities is criticized for not providing greater leadership both within the government and among potential sources of private financial support for the humanities. (MSE)

Higher education can no longer treat lifelong learning and nontraditional education as add-on activities peripheral to the mainstream of the college's functions. The W. K. Kellogg Foundation is reassessing its support program to meet the needs of a changing society. (MSE)

Three central themes run through foundation programs addressed to higher education today: the survival of liberal arts institutions and effective teaching within them; the maintenance of equal access for minorities and women; and the dedication of university research and other resources to solving larger societal problems. (MLW)

It is argued that despite the decline of the humanities in higher education in the 20 years since the National Endowment for the Humanities came into existence, the agency has probably done much to promote the humanities and prevent further decline. (MSE)

Describes the Pew Charitable Trusts' Pew Leadership Award for revitalization and reform in higher education and summarizes characteristics of the 45 nominated institutions. The institutions develop portfolios documenting accomplishments in the areas of curriculum redesign, faculty roles and responsibilities, and resource reallocation. Profiles the…